Health coverage extended for adult children

A new Illinois law that takes effects June 1 will allow adult children to be covered as dependents by their parents’ health plan until age 26.

A new Illinois law that takes effects June 1 will allow adult children to be covered as dependents by their parents’ health plan until age 26. The Dependent Coverage Act of 2009, which was passed by the General Assembly in September but signed into law this year, amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, and applies to private insurance plans, not just plans offered by municipalities. State Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-8th District, a co-sponsor of the new bill, said the bill would especially benefit college students. He said that the insurance industry was against the bill because it would cost them more money to extend coverage. “This is one less thing college students have to worry about when they are away at school,” Ford told the Defender. “It’s also good for those parents collecting child support, too, because if they do not have health insurance and the other parent does, that parent could keep the child on their plan even after age 18.” There are several eligibility requirements. Adult children cannot be married and must reside in Illinois. The law does not apply to companies or unions whose health plan is self-insured and generally would not apply to health plans outside Illinois. And if parents have health plans that don’t include coverage for children or dependents, employers are not required to comply. ______ Copyright 2009 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

About Post Author

Comments

From the Web

Skip to content